VIRTUOUS LIVING - Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Translation:.Interpretation:Interpretive note:One eats a dog, and humiliation falls on the whole clan.The actions of one person evoke shame for his/her wholecommunityIt is a common perception that the perceived communitycharacter is often used to judge every member of thatcommunity. Conversely, character impressions of a singlemember are used as representative of the character of his/hercommunityThirdly, it is imperative that each individual tell his/her story faithfully and willingly.That is, sharing the awareness of what is good and bad and declaring commonintention to pursue the good. This is important so that the individual may beencouraged to carry on being morally upright, that is, good, just and wise. If theindividual’s story includes weaknesses, the individual is counselled and supported ashe/she corrects those moral deficiencies in his/her life. The individual is expected tobe “open” to the community, much as the community is also “open” to him/her inproportion to his/her level of maturity and expectation.Fourthly, Hauerwas maintains that whilst engaging with social concerns, the churchmaintains its identity as church. The church is a social ethic by merely being thechurch. The individuals who are a community of character have a story which iscollective, and includes “skills for negotiating the danger of existence, trusting inGod’s promise of redemption” (Hauerwas 1981:10). Like Christ, the believers refuseto resort “to violence in order to secure their survival” (Hauerwas 1981:10). This doesnot mean,a rejection of the world or a withdrawal from ethics, but a reminder thatChristians must serve the world on their own terms; otherwise the worldwould have no means to know itself as the world (Hauerwas 1981:10). 125125 Hauerwas argues that this social ethic is governed by the understanding that Christ is in control ofhistory. Such an attitude allows the participating Christians not to worry about their own security; afterall, Jesus Christ transforms their stories by his virtues. The practice of virtues exonerates the virtuousfrom such fears.318